New Zealand 22 Ireland 19

Captain Brian O’Driscoll insists Ireland “are not playing here for second best” as they look to respond to their emphatic defeat by the All Blacks when they meet again in Christchurch on Saturday.

Ireland 10 New Zealand 42

All Black number eight Kieran Read has dismissed the notion Ireland will be easy pickings for New Zealand in this month’s three-test series.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen has drafted in seven new caps for the forthcoming Steinlager Series of three Test matches against Ireland.

New Zealand have announced a 35-player squad to attend two training camps ahead of the three-Test Series against Ireland in June.

Pakistan’s prime minister has appealed for support from parliament in a stand-off between his beleaguered government and the armed forces, saying MPs had to choose between “democracy and dictatorship”.

Pakistan’s prime minister telephoned the top British diplomat in the country, expressing fears that the army might be about to stage a coup, reports say.

KEVEN MEALAMU has paid a glowing tribute to New Zealand coach Graham Henry as the All Blacks supremo prepares for his final game at the helm.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry today named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup final against France at Eden Park.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named an unchanged team for Sunday’s World Cup final against France at Eden Park.

SONNY BILL WILLIAMS may have joked about replacing Dan Carter at fly-half, but he was deadly serious in vowing New Zealand would not abandon their attacking principles in pursuit of World Cup glory.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry praised an impressive showing by Sonny Bill Williams after the All Blacks romped to an 83-7 victory over Japan at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium yesterday.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry praised an impressive showing by Sonny Bill Williams after the All Blacks romped to an 83-7 victory over Japan at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium.

New Zealand 83 Japan 7

New Zealand head coach Graham Henry insisted he was not prepared to gamble on the fitness of captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina for the World Cup Pool A clash with Japan in Hamilton.

New Zealand expect number eight Kieran Read to miss most of the round-robin stage at the World Cup after tests showed he has torn a ligament in his left ankle.

WE had our plans about what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go but circumstances overtook us, as they overtook quite a few people last Saturday.

Australia 25 New Zealand 20

NEW ZEALAND have named what appears to be their first-choice side for Saturday’s Tri-Nations decider against the Wallabies.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has announced his 30-man squad for the Rugby World Cup with no place for quintet Sitiveni Sivivatu, Wyatt Crockett, Liam Messam, Jarrad Hoeata and Hosea Gear.

A host of fringe players will get the chance to stake a final claim for a place in New Zealand’s World Cup squad after being named in the starting XV for Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with South Africa.

New Zealand 60 Fiji 14

John Afoa, Corey Flynn, Liam Messam and Ma'a Nonu have been recalled to the New Zealand squad for the Tri-Nations series with Australia and South Africa.

Dan Carter is one of several New Zealand players in doubt for Saturday’s series finale against Wales in Hamilton.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry clearly has one eye on the future when naming rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry had one eye on the future when he named rising stars Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg and Victor Vito in his squad for Tests against Ireland and Wales next month.

A five-year-old boy freed by kidnappers after his family paid a £110,000 ransom was reunited with his father today.

KIDNAPPERS released a five-year-old British boy unharmed almost two weeks after abducting him from his grandparents’ house in central Pakistan, British and Pakistani officials said.

The mother of a five-year-old British boy kidnapped by gunmen in Pakistan spoke of her joy today after he was released unharmed.

A British boy kidnapped while on holiday in Pakistan nearly two weeks ago has been located safe and well, the British High Commission said today.

NEW ZEALAND rugby coach Graham Henry has made three changes from the team that beat England 19-6 for Saturday’s Test against France in Marseille.

ALL BLACKS star Dan Carter has been cited for an alleged dangerous tackle on Wales scrum-half Martin Roberts during Saturday’s Test match.

New Zealand are playing a waiting game on Dan Carter's fitness for their Millennium Stadium clash against Wales.

New Zealand loose forward Jerome Kaino claims reclaiming the number six jersey is his priority on the All Blacks' upcoming tour.

NEW ZEALAND coach Graham Henry has made five changes and two positional switches to his starting line-up for the dead rubber Tri-Nations match against Australia in Wellington.

Stephen Donald will start at inside centre for New Zealand in Saturday’s Tri-Nations showdown with South Africa in Hamilton.

THE GREAT New Zealand wing Joe Rokocoko is the only starting member of Saturday’s All Blacks XV at Croke Park included in the lineup for tomorrow night’s clash with Munster at Thomond Park.

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has named seven new players in his 35-man squad for the autumn tour to Hong Kong and Europe.

Brad Thorn, Sitiveni Sivivatu and captain Richie McCaw have been recalled to the New Zealand starting line-up for the Tri-Nations decider against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

Daniel Braid has been called into the New Zealand squad ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup showdown with Australia.

South Africa hooker Bismarck du Plessis has been banned for three weeks following a SANZAR judicial hearing in Dunedin.

New Zealand 28 South Africa 30

New Zealand coach Graham Henry has made two changes to his starting line-up for the second match of the Tri-Nations against world champions South Africa on Saturday.